Mentally Disordered Firesetters: An Examination of Risk Factors

Objective: In this study, we examined the risk-related characteristics of mentally disordered patients who had either been (1) involved in a firesetting incident, or (2) involved in a non-firesetting comparison incident whilst under the care of the National Health Service. Method: One hundred and thirty-two participants were recruited within an NHS Care Group in England (66 mentally disordered firesetters, 66 mentally disordered comparisons). Logistic regression was used to model the ability of static, dynamic, and incident-related factors in predicting whether or not a patient had set a fire (including gender-sensitive sub-analyses), and whether a patient firesetter was male or female, or a one-time or repeat firesetter. Results: We identified a cluster of variables that predicted firesetting status. We also identified key factors that predicted female patient firesetters relative to female patient controls who engaged in other undesirable behaviours and male patient firesetters. A cluster of variables predictive of repeat versus one-time firesetting also emerged. Conclusions: Findings are discussed in relation to further development of risk-related firesetting theory

Cyberstalking versus off-line stalking in a forensic sample

There is relatively little empirical research into cyberstalking and most published research reports data from samples of cyberstalking victims. The current study aimed to fill a gap in the literature by comparing 36 cyberstalking offenders with an age and gender matched sample of 36 off-line stalkers (average age 37 years, 94% male) to investigate differences in demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics. Non-parametric analyses showed few between-group differences, although cyberstalkers were more likely to be ex-intimate partners (75% vs. 47%, χ2 = 5.84, p =.02, φ =.28) and less likely to approach their victims (56% vs. 78%, χ2 = 4.00, p =.05, φ = -.24). The majority of cyberstalkers also used off-line stalking tactics. Examination of specific cyberstalking behaviours suggested that cyberstalkers with different motivations used the Internet in distinct ways. These results support broad conclusions from previous research indicating that there are relatively few differences between cyberstalkers and off-line stalkers. Once the motivation of the stalker is considered, treatment and management strategies for cyberstalking and off-line stalking are likely to be similar

The potential relevance of brain dysfunction in arson

People with mental health disorder are often involved in deliberate firesetting, and mental health practitioners are frequently required to assess, treat and manage this troubling group. Focusing on firesetting behaviour in adults, this book addresses the psychological causes of deliberate firesetting

Identifying risk factors in stalking: a review of current research.

Stalking is a behaviour which can cause substantial damage to its victims, whether the perpetrator is violent or not. Victims face a range of risks including not only assault, but persistent or recurrent stalking and varying degrees of psychological and social damage. The responsibility for assessing and managing these risks often falls to the mental health professional, yet the emerging stalking risk assessment literature is at too early a stage to provide clinicians with empirically derived evidence upon which to base their clinical practice. This paper reviews existing research to identify those factors currently believed to be associated with increased risk of physical and sexual assault; with persistent and/or recurrent stalking; and, with psychological and social damage

Bushfire and wildfire arson: arson risk assessment in the Australian context

People with mental health disorder are often involved in deliberate firesetting, and mental health practitioners are frequently required to assess, treat and manage this troubling group. Focusing on firesetting behaviour in adults, this book addresses the psychological causes of deliberate firesetting

What works for assessing stalking risks? Comparing the HCR-20 and LSI-R with stalking-specific risk assessment tools

Abstract not available

'It's not really stalking if you know the person': measuring community attitudes that normalize, justify and minimise stalking

It has been hypothesised that attitudes minimising, justifying and normalising stalking exist in the community, influencing whether or not stalking is recognised, and potentially affecting the responses of police and others to whom victims turn for support. This study investigates the nature of these attitudes as measured using the Stalking Related Attitudes Questionnaire (SRAQ). Two hundred and forty-four community members and 280 police officers in Victoria, Australia (total sample 61% male, mean age=43.3, SD = 13.3) completed the SRAQ. Full information factor analysis identified three underlying stalking-related attitudes: "stalking isn't serious", "stalking is romantic" and "victims are to blame". Males endorsed all to a greater extent than females, whereas police and community only differed in that police believed stalking to be more serious. Stronger stereotype endorsement was related to judgements of not guilty in a fictional stalking case. These results indicate that attitudes and beliefs that downplay, excuse and normalise stalking behaviour can be measured, and have some influence on recognition of stalking behaviour

Advances in stalking risk assessment

Over the past 15 years, forensic mental health has become more concerned with the concepts of violence prevention, management, and treatment. The development of specialist tools to aid in the assessment of a range of risks reflects this concern. This article explores contemporary thinking on violence risk assessment and how this knowledge can be applied to the relatively newer field of stalking risk assessment. The role of risk state and risk status are discussed, in addition to the way that standard structured professional judgment procedures need to be adapted to reflect the variety of risks present in stalking situations. The authors go on to describe the development and format of the Stalking Risk Profile, a set of structured professional judgment guidelines for assessing risk in stalkers. Suggestions are made for future research to enhance knowledge and improve practice in the field of stalking risk assessment. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Explicit threats of violence

International Handbook of Threat Assessment offers a definition of the foundations of threat assessment, systematically explores its fields of practice, and provides information and instruction on the best practices of threat assessment